Crosstown rivalry matches are some of the best wrestling to cover in New Jersey. Some are bigger than others. However, Morris Hills and Morris Knolls showcased to us on Friday night (01/12/24) that their rivalry means something even more. Morris Hills were out with their heavyweight wrestler, Shane Davison, but that didn’t stop them from having the night that they had this past Friday night. Morris Hills shocks the gym at Morris Knolls High School with a 40-25 victory over their crosstown rivals to add another team win in the winning column for the Scarlet Knights.
Trailing 25-19 with four bouts to go, the Scarlet Knights understood that they need to overcome not only the deficit but win in some big moments where on paper may not show it. It started at 190lbs, as Ayden Gomez lead 5-1 heading the third period. Understanding what is at stake, the team just had to start a winning formula. But Gomez had other ideas as he starts the pinning streak for the Scarlet Knights at the 4:48 time mark over his Golden Eagles opponent, Preston Mercado, to have both teams all tied up at 25 a piece.
The Scarlet Knights took the gamble in bumping up their normal 215lber, Brady Gaeb to 285lbs to fulfill in Davison’s shoes. After a stunning pin from Scarlet Knights’ Anthony Prestia, Gaeb was up to the challenge to clinch the match for them with a 0:19 pin over Morris Knolls’ Lucas Nagua to extend the lead for Morris Hills, 37-25. The crowd went absolutely wild and Gaeb’s expression after his pin showed the emotions to defeat their rivals on the road. Morris Hills’ Adam Molina, put an exclamation point on the team victory with a 7-2 decision win of his own.
As the match concluded, Gaeb reminisced to the rivalry matchup last season in his home gym and how he flipped the script for this match this season.
“I ended up getting pinned and it really took a toll on us. We lost a hard fought match.” Gaeb said in a post match interview at the conclusion the match.
Gaeb made sure to put it all behind him and won his bout for his teammate and drill partner, Shane Davison, who has helped him get to the point that he is currently at in the sport of wrestling. Davison suffered an injury that prevented him from wrestling in the night’s match but was still seen in cheering on his team to get the team victory and be a leader.
“I’ve been Shane’s wrestling partner for the last two years. We’re very close to one another and this one was for him” Gaeb said of his teammate.
As long as Morris Hills can continue the way they wrestled on Friday night (01/12/24) and wrestle for a full six minute match, there may be more wins for them coming along the way and push for a further sectional run in February.
